From Beast Abilities to Sect Grand Master

Liang Feng, Shao Xue Cong, and Lin Xuan Qi looked at each other, not knowing how to respond.

Lin Fan glanced at them with his index finger on his lips, signaling them to keep mum.

"Master, I think it's because they are talented," he said and stretched out his hands. "You got the pills for them?"

Zhang Yi Nian frowned and after a moment, he took out six bottles of pills and passed them over to Lin Fan.

"I hope you are right and that they are truly talented," Zhang Yi Nian said, and he narrowed his eyes and placed his hand on Lin Fan's shoulder.

He knew Lin Fan was up to something as usual but couldn't pinpoint it.

Lin Fan gave him a smile and quickly diverted the topic.

"Master, what have you found out in the West Monastery? Do you have any idea what the Dark Lord wants this time?"

Zhang Yi Nian gave out a sigh and said, "There wasn't much we could salvage.

"Long Kong's head was smashed into a pulp of flesh.

"Ming Ye's memory recall formation array couldn't get anything out of it.

"The only thing we could do was alert the imperial court and the other sects that the Dark Lord is back.

"Everyone has got to be on the lookout for the Dark Lord."

Lin Fan thought about what he had encountered and said, "The Dark Lord was with another monk who could use the Arhat Arduous Cultivation Technique with a dark arhat.

"Maybe that's a direction we can investigate."

"Hmm... I shall let the sect master know about it and see what his plan is." Zhang Yi Nian nodded and said, "In the meantime, help your junior martial brothers and sisters. And also, it's time for you to focus on your cultivation too."

Lin Fan nodded and asked Liang Feng, Shao Xue Cong, and Lin Xuan Qi to continue their breathing and sensing training.

He, on the other hand, focused on his own cultivation.

Bathtubs of herbs were prepared with many other peripherals to help him toughen his body.

Dipping into the herbal bath, he sensed the herbs doing their work, expanding his senses and dantian.

Once his dantian had been expanded slightly, he quickly got out of the herb bath and used the peripherals to strengthen his body.

Using just enough Qi to protect himself, he skillfully let his body endure the heat, ice, water, and blades that were inflicted on his body.

Liang Feng, Shao Xue Cong, and Lin Xuan Qi looked in awe at Lin Fan as he proceeded with his cultivation.

Even though everything looked to be torture, Lin Fan didn't even give out a cry in pain.

It made them much more resolved, wanting to be like Lin Fan.

Lin Xuan Qi with his natural abilities and experience improved the fastest.

Closely behind him was Shao Xue Cong with her determination.

Liang Feng wasn't as fast, but his hard work and determination weren't that far off from the others.

...

North Realm.

Dark Temple.

The temple was now darker and much more eerie with cries echoing in the air.

Long Yong, seated on his seat, was pleased every time that the cry could be heard.

Whenever he heard it, his fingers slowly shifted through the golden praying beads he had in his hands.

"Can't you get that Dark Physician Wu to stop?" Iron Heart Nun was frustrated with the cries happening on and off.

"That's the only way to get my junior martial brother's soul to repent for what he did to the West Monastery." Long Yong ignored the Iron Heart Nun.

The Dark Lord stepped forward, turned towards the Iron Heart Nun, and said, "Master, maybe it's also time for you to exact your revenge."

Iron Heart Nun shook her head and said, "My junior martial sister, Mei Shuang, has been dead for some time. I'm not in a hurry to destroy the Yi Mei Sect."

Leaning her body towards the Iron Heart Nun, Jade Face Lin exposed much of her chest and smirked at the Iron Heart Nun.

"I heard many men are going after your niece Zhao Jia Rui. Are you so iron-hearted to let her be touched by these men?" she licked her lips and said.

Sing!

"You..." The Iron Hearted Nun stood up, drew out her sword, and pointed it at Jade Face Lin.

"Ha ha ha." Jade Face Lin lifted her head and gave out loud laughter.

When she slowly lowered her head, she smirked at Iron Hearted Nun and said, "You are not so iron-hearted after all."

Sing.

The Iron Hearted Nun put her sword back and turned over to the Dark Lord. "We shall go and destroy the Yi Mei Sect. But this time..." She glanced over at Long Yong and Jade Face Lin.

"Both of you shall go with me too. The righteous sects must have been alerted of our return. Best for us to combine forces and give them a surprise."

"Count me in. I shall not miss out on the chance to inflict pain onto them."

"Sounds fun. Haven't seen men for a long while. Hope they can quench my thirst."

Long Yong and Jade Face Lin didn't hesitate and agreed to Iron Heart Nun's proposal.

"I will get everything ready," the Dark Lord said and turned over to Huo Ren Yi.

Huo Ren Yi had bandages on his neck.

His encounter with Lin Fan was a close call, and luckily for him, Dark Physician Wu was able to heal him back to health.

But it was not without paying a price for it.

Huo Ren Yi now has a lust for blood to sustain himself.

He bowed at the Dark Lord and followed him behind.

It was time to show all the sects what the Dark Temple was made of.

...

A month passed and Lin Fan's cultivation progress was going well.

He was able to get to Nascent Soul Stage Ten, just one stage short of breaking through to the next level, Soul Transformation.

Liang Feng, Shao Xue Cong, and Lin Xuan Qi didn't disappoint, and they were all now at Qi Concentration Level Stage Two.

Which was a miracle like Lin Fan as others struggled to get to stage one or weren't even able to sense Qi during the first month.

And today, Lin Fan was eager to bring them to the central square for their first test.

The Monthly Ranking.